The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-11
A PREHISTORIC CITY.
The Wonderful Discovery OF Prof.
Cushman.

The Wonderful Discovery OF Prof.
Cushman.
Special to the Washington Post,
letter from Arizona gives information
OF I'm exceedingly interesting and valuable
chronological find made 10y Mr. Frank II.
Cushman, of Zuni fame, the past summer
in Arizona. II seems he has mcathcd the
ruins OF II prehistoric city in the Salt river
valley, about eighty miles northwest Of
Tucson, Inquiry made ut the Office OF the
Powell geological survey ELECTED full con-
finnation OF the printed report, together
with interesting additional information
about the great find, Prof Cushman is at
present in southern California, lying cX-
trcmcly III, but the force he put ut work
during the summer cxhuming the buried
city are still encampcd ON the spot contin.
uing their explorations.
The camp is located ON the edge Of the
uncarthcd city and about 500 yards from
what was its citadel, or fortified temple.
This is believed To have been building
OF considerable size and strength, proha-
bly several stories high, and had lis ioun-
dation laid deep in the earth. The mate,
rial used in its construction was sun.dricd
clay, the same ny that used 10y the Next
cans of the lower and middle classes, and
before Mr.. Cushman began his cxploU-
tons there was nothing 10 mark its
whereabouts, except sort OF uhlong
hillock or mound. Little of the walls
above the foundation were found in
tact, but the ground plan could he traced
in every detail, Ms well Us the lines Of the
outer wall. Tho rooms were OF different
| sizes, and seemed to have been constructed
with much architectural skill. A mum
Der OF the smaller apartments had un.
| doubleday been constructed for burial
vaults, for when they were opened up
skeletons were found In them, the heads
being mvaribly Ia the Gust, In one Of
these vaults was the skeleton Of q child.
| Mr. Cushnan was of the opinion that the
| building had been sort ol
combined citadel and sacred tenn
pie, and that the remains
of those found there were those Of priests
aud their families The citys Nicndcd Out
in all directions from the palace or temple,
and the foundations Of numerous dwelling
had been exposed, many OF them consist
ing of but single room; but nov and thci
there II one ol larger and more ample pro
| portions. aud In most ui these larger one
there had been found burial vaults an,
skeletons. Two thousand of these hay,
been cNhumcd already, according 10 tn,
letter, hut il TX thought 10y ia,
officials oi the geological survey that Thu
tx u misprint Tor 200 great deal oi pot
terry hasbccn taken out Of course, n,
iron, copper or metal instrument ui an,
kind have hccd found, hut great quaint
ties Of stone axes, stone pcsllcs and NOR
tars, bone needles aud knives, and othcl
such materials ~ belong To the stone age
The skill with which these articles wcr,
made was Tar superior however, Ia that
shown hy the Indians found IN America
by the whites. These prehistoric dwell
ems ui southern Arizona were "a people ~
very superior intelligence.
MIR Cushmnu hpH found u good deal ,
b wheat aud barley aud other grain, all Oi /
: oi coursc, in CHARGED blackCncd cond
. ton. and lac has also traced several canal
) and found the ruins of q lnrgr p'Hcryoir
~ that he has no doubt that extensive
irrigation had been carried on, aud thai
all the valley had been under cultivation
lie thinks there must have been q popula
ton ui at least 2i,OOO in the ruined city,
aud that most oi the inhabitants lived 10y
culiiWling the soil Of the surrounding
| country
Cushman was questioned as Ia his theory
about the complete disappearance 0i th,
people Who occupied this city
~ think, said hc, they suffered iron
some great calamity like the inhabitant
II llcrulnnwum and pompoii, II VIZ
probably an cnrihqwdke. | have ioun,
skeletons under the walls Of houses lynn
~ II the walls had suddenly fallen upui
the person and crushed him Ia death
YES, ! think there came q terrible earth
quake, which killed many and lrighicnc,
the remainder away. They Ven, ~
doubt, u religious people and Nrungl!
upcrltious ~ that -lhcy mw IN th'
calamity that bcfcll them waning {,
seek some other abode. They probabl,
moved south. aud Il may have been lbcil
descendants that the Spaniarls found 10
Mexico. They were certainly equal IN in
lclli-cncc aud advancement To the NJ
tees